Top Company 2019: Real Estate

Meet the finalists that are making a difference through real estate

Lisa Ryckman //September 4, 2019//

Top Company 2019: Real Estate

Meet the finalists that are making a difference through real estate

Lisa Ryckman //September 4, 2019//

Etkin Johnson Real Estate Partners. 

In its 32nd year, ColoradoBiz's Top Company honors the Colorado companies that have drive, determination, a vision and a plan and are ultimately making the state a better place to live and work. These three companies – one winner and two finalists – represent the 2019 Top Companies in Real Estate. 

WINNER

Etkin Johnson Real Estate Partners

Denver 

Etkin Johnson has been around for 30 years, so its leaders understand what makes Colorado real estate tick.

“We leverage our extensive market knowledge to identify areas we believe will produce sustained growth,” Partner Ryan Good says. “In total, we have developed and acquired more than 90 high-quality properties across Colorado’s Front Range, totaling over 9.2 million square feet.”

In January, Etkin Johnson closed on the largest industrial portfolio sale in Colorado’s history, both in terms of size and price. The 1.95 million-square-foot, 19-property portfolio – dubbed Colorado Industrial Portfolio – sold to Berkeley Partners for $247.5 million.

With 25 employees, Etkin Johnson remains a close-knit operation where everyone is encouraged to bring their unique gifts to the table, Good says.

“Our culture of continuous improvement means no one rests on their laurels,” Good says. “Make no mistake, we expect a lot from the talented individuals who work here. But we also believe in balancing those high expectations with meaningful support for our team’s well-being.”

Good says taking care of Colorado communities is in the company’s DNA, noting that in the past four years alone, his colleagues have volunteered more than 800 hours of community service for nonprofits including Urban Peak, Food Bank of the Rockies, Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House.

“As a company, we have contributed more than $460,000 to organizations since 2013, including a recent $250,000 donation to the Centura Health Foundation in Colorado Springs,” he says. “Four years ago, Bruce Etkin launched the Etkin Johnson Student Scholar Program through ULI Colorado that immerses 10 students each year in our thriving real estate industry to create future leaders.”

FINALISTS

8z Real Estate

Boulder

8z Real Estate was founded on the idea that the real estate experience was broken and needed to be fixed for both consumers and agents.

8z Real Estate employs the highest caliber professionals and innovative technology. Employees receive unmatched support through the proven 8z System, which combines industry leading training, technology and marketing support, resulting in the top of their industry production with an average 20.23 transactions and $9.3 million per agent in 2018, closing $1 billion in sales. Agents who participated in its matching donation program raised $17,425 in 2018  for 8z’s two main philanthropies: Greenhouse Scholars and Salute Colorado. 8z Real Estate CEO Lane Hornung founded Salute Colorado, an organization to help veterans make the transition from military to civilian life.

AvenueWest Global Franchise

Denver

AvenueWest offers a network of locally owned and managed real estate franchises centered on fully furnished private residences for monthly corporate housing rentals offered primarily to the business traveler. The AvenueWest Franchise system was developed to match qualified entrepreneurs with a proven system that can significantly decrease overhead, especially in the Corporate Housing arena. It delivers a proven and award-winning business model, while increasing real estate income and profit margins dramatically. The company has donated kitchen supplies for Colorado’s Third Way Center for at-risk teens and linens and towels to local battered women’s shelters.

This article is part of the 2019 ColoradoBiz Top Company Awards. Read more about all the winners & finalists: 
ADVERTISING & MARKETING DIGITAL MARKETING ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING CONSUMER BUSINESS ENERGY FINANCIAL SERVICES HEALTH CARE MANUFACTURING NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES | SOFTWARE STARTUP TECHNOLOGY SERVICES TOURISM & HOSPITALITY